A third team in less than a year for Vladimir Tarasenko?!

After 33 games this season, the Ottawa Senators have put up a woeful record of 14-19-0, good for 28 points and the last place in the standings of the Atlantic division. Ahead of Friday’s action, the Senators are 15 points away from the last Wild Card playoff spot in the Eastern conference.

Which pretty much means they are likely to be sellers at the upcoming March 8 trade deadline.

Adam Proteau of the Hockey News therefore feels like veteran forward Vladimir Tarasenko will once again be on the move. Not only he is the most desirable trade asset in Ottawa at this time, putting up eight goals and 24 points in 31 contests this season, but also because he will probably look to join a Stanley Cup contender as a rental ahead of the postseason. Proteau writes:

“The 32-year-old sniper is on a one-year, $5-million contract before he becomes a UFA next summer, and Staios could move him for younger players and draft picks.”

Proteau also suggests the Senators could shop Dominik Kubalik as a more affordable option for rival teams looking for a winger that won’t cost as much in assets as Tarasenko.

“Any team acquiring him will essentially be giving him a tryout for next season. If he thrives, he’ll be extended contractually, and if he struggles, he’ll be allowed to leave, and the team will use his cap space on someone else.”

While the Senators will need to keep building this time that already has core young players in place, there is no way they will ever more captain Brady Tkachuk and star forward Tim Stutzle. But when it comes to Tarasenko, Kubalik and other veterans, they could be moved elsewhere ahead of March 8.

“The veterans around the core are another story, which is why this writer expects secondary contributors such as Tarasenko and Kubalik to be moved by the March 8 trade deadline.”

If Tarasenko is moved again, like he was last year from the St. Louis Blues to the New York Rangers, he will be a new uniform for the third time in just a year.

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